Abstract
Implementing a web-scale discovery service can be a complex and challenging task, but the process doesn’t simply end once your service goes live. In order to ensure that your new service is meeting the needs of its users, your implementation strategy should include a plan for iterative user testing. Different library users have different needs, making it nearly impossible for any discovery product to offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Fortunately, vendors offer a variety of configuration and customization options to help libraries tailor the experience to the needs of their users. This chapter offers practical guidance on how to apply insights from user testing to the customization of your web-scale discovery tool. In particular, it describes the results of collaborative user study conducted by Rutgers University and EBSCO User Research and offers an instructive model for how libraries and vendors can work together to improve products and develop solutions that become part of future web-scale discovery offerings.